Chart Mondays: Rag'n'Bone Man - Human



He's the Critics' Choice Brit Award Winner 2017, and since Clean Bandit is still on top with the incredible "Rockabye" song that is always stuck in my head because of Anne-Marie's amazing vocals and Sean Paul's voice; it opens my Chart Mondays up, and this is really the only music video I can do from the UK Singles Chart. Standing up for himself and everyone else, this song has really captured all our hearts; its music video shows Rag'n'Bone Man as well as various other people as "Human", we're all the same.

Rag'n'Bone Man, real name Rory Graham, has been around for a couple of years, dropping EPs and a couple of singles; but when this hit came around, it totally blasted him into a star. All it takes is one song. Some talent is never found because they never get the right song. This song comes from his debut album, which will be released in February, and is also titled "Human". He has recently won the Brits Critics' Choice Award, against some stiff competition including Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie. I am - kind of - interested in his following releases. Will he be a one-hit wonder? With a voice like his, he shouldn't be. This song was written by Jamie Hartman and Rory Graham.

Directed by Charlie Robins, this music video is performance based, with personal portraits.

They have shown Rag'n'Bone Man simply as "Human", showing no difference between him and any of the other people in this music video.

With skilled editing work, everyone morphs into one. It shows a strong message, a message of unity and hurtfulness. Everyone shown could have something wrong with them, enough where they have got bullied, been abused physically and mentally. But they're just human, just like we're just human.

This music video may not be exciting or engaging, but it's showing that we're all human beings. Relating to the song perfectly, it comes across with a fighting spirit. And yet, where there's room to grow this into a wonderful narrative, it stays flat and leaves us guessing.
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Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things



This is one of my favourite duet songs of 2016, talk about a collaboration and a half. This is beyond mesmerising; but, once again, Camila Cabello doesn't make a hit. This song and her other duet with Shawn Mendes, "I Know What You Did Last Summer", hasn't really done well on the UK chart. Regardless of that fact, it doesn't take away from how amazing this song is! It's totally underrated. Watch Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello do "Bad Things" together and slightly to each other, in this music video, with a shocking heartfelt ending that leaves us all guessing.

Machine Gun Kelly, real name Richard Colson Baker, is a rapper and an actor. He first came to my attention in Nerve. Since then, he released this song and I'm hooked. He looks beautiful in this music video, and I'm eager to listen to more of his songs and watch more of the films he has starred in. The whole reason I bought the single was because of Camila Cabello, as I'm a massive fan of Fifth Harmony. She's the first of the five girls to go on and release music away from the group. As previously mentioned, she teamed up with Shawn Mendes on the amazing track "I Know What You Did Last Summer", and then she's done this one. But, she hasn't made it solo just yet, so I don't think Fifth Harmony are going to part ways anytime soon, even if Lauren Jauregui has done the same and released her own featured single. This song was written by Colson Baker, Camila Cabello, Madison Love, Tony Scalzo, Joe Khajadourian, and Alex Schwartz. It features an interpolation of Fastball's "Out Of My Head".

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, no wonder it's so amazing, this music video is highly memorable and totally infectious.

The collaborative artists are childhood lovers, who have grown up together doing bad things. There are so many amazing scenes that it is impossible to comment on them all. But I totally love the car drifting scene, that really made me think they were going to crash and die there.

They find an abandoned warehouse where they throw a party, and Camila Cabello adorns a princess tiara. Machine Gun Kelly gets wrapped in tape, I'm sure a few of us wouldn't mind doing that to him.

He gets in a couple of fights, and they also steal a car, which leads to the police running after them. That then brings us right back to the start of the music video where they can be seen at the top of a building, but the ending leaves it on a total cliff-hanger, do they jump?

Both artists look incredibly sexy in this music video, just by being themselves and the perfect camera angles and shots.

What else can I say? Other than going into how gorgeously sexy Machine Gun Kelly looks, but then again, the same could be said of Camila Cabello. The song is pure fire, but the music video has stepped up the song so much more. This will forever remain an underrated track, and it so should've gained momentum. It'll be a lost treasure that I will be playing for years. The music video follows suit and is worthy of awards across the board. Side note: I love the comments saying that this was what Shawn Mendes was on about, this is what Camila Cabello got up to last summer; in reference to her previous collaboration "I Know What You Did Last Summer".
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Olly Murs - Grow Up



Heard this on the radio after Christmas shopping, so thought it would be the perfect excuse to review the video. This is such a sweet music video, yet could've easily been chaotic... Wait! It pretty is chaotic in a relatable way. I'm not so keen on the song, it's too nicey-nice for the lyrical context, and yet the music video does the exact same thing. Watch children take over Olly Murs' music video set in this visual of "Grow Up". Adorable but not engaging.

Olly Murs made his name by coming second in the sixth series of The X Factor. He has done the best from the contestants of that year, although that could be due to being signed to the Syco label and managing to hit out bangers in his early career. Now, he's totally been underperforming, releasing growing songs, much like this one. After hearing it over and over, it easily embeds into my head, which is his signature style of songs, and yet they're never easy hits, and never memorable enough. This is just another to add to the Olly Murs collection. This song was written by Olly Murs, Steve Robson, Camille Purcell, and Wayne Hector.

Directed by Jim Canty, children take over completely and make the video instead. See them reorganising the set, doing his make-up and being fashionistas.

Annoyingly they talk over the song, which doesn't make it that great to view. Not only that but it seems very messy.

This sort of video has been done plenty of times. We've seen people behind cameras and in director chairs often, enough that I can't even list them all because there's been too many. Yet, this is just another one; there's nothing unique or special about this one, apart from it being children, but they're not mischievous enough.

Olly Murs is known for being a cheeky chappy, and therefore, we expect the kids to be just as cheeky. Yet, this just falls flat.

The music video feels totally low budget. It should've been so much bigger, but it's not. The kids should be troublemakers but they're not. There's no doubt that Olly Murs will be a great father one day, but that is not what this song is about.
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New Release: WHOISJODY - Closer To You



Time for a bit of house music on my blog today, although the only reason is because I struggled to find a music video for any songs that were released this week. It seems this is the only one I could find, and it's pretty unimaginative. Watch a guy with painted eyelids dance away to this house song titled "Closer To You" by WHOISJODY.

WHOISJODY, real name Jody Koenders, has been known by various different names in the past including Jody Meyer and Jody San. He is from the Netherlands and has released various different songs, but he has described this project as Super House. This song has already been released on Beatport and will follow onto iTunes in 2017. I can't deny that the song is full of beats that I'd love to rave to. A perfect tune for the clubs.

The music video is a performance visual of a guy dancing. That is basically it. There's nothing else to it.

It's not engaging whatsoever, although it is kind of shocking when he removes his sunglasses. You have to give yourself some time to adjust to the weirdness of it all and to understand what is happening.

There is a guy who is dancing with his eyes closed. Only, painted on his eyelids are eyes. It reminds me of a scene out of Tom & Jerry, where they don't want to be seen to be asleep.

At the end, he opens his eyes and confuses us even more. I don't understand what is going on. Yet, I can't deny how catchy this song is.
Buy on Beatport

Gucci Mane Featuring Usher - Spotlight



It's Thursday Revisit time, and I thought I had cocked it all up. I went through every artist I have reviewed this week, and none of them had released anything more than five years ago, apart from Inna, but I've reviewed all of hers; until I realised Gucci Mane was a featured artist on Rae Sremmurd's track "Black Beatles"; and so, I had to do one of Gucci Mane's old songs. Since this is the one that has charted on the UK chart, why not? Gucci Mane teams up with Usher who is hosting a party, but the rapper isn't up to it after parting ways with his girl. Watch some jealousy sparks in this "Spotlight" music video.

Gucci Mane, real name Radric Davis, has been going for years, but it isn't until he teamed up with Rae Sremmurd for track "Black Beatles" that he gained global chart success; even if the song is only known as the Mannequin Challenge song. He has previously charted a number of times, in his early career in the US; however, this is the only song that charted in the UK by him. The reason it charted may have something to do with Usher. He is the featured artist on this track, real name Usher Raymond IV. If you don't know who he is, he has been killing it for years. Global success all over; hence why this track charted in the UK because he was at the height of his fame then, and still is. This song was written by Radric Davis, Usher Raymond, and Jamal Jones.

Directed by Benny Boom, the music video also has cameos from Nicki Minaj (before she became famous), and Eddie Murphy's daughter: Bria Murphy.

The opening creates a narrative which sets up the performance piece, ending full circle. We watch as Usher urges Gucci Mane to come to his party, but the rapper isn't feeling up to partying as he is upset. We learn that he and his girlfriend has split up.

Usher wins him over, naturally. This is where the performance piece kicks in, and we see Usher doing his thing. Gucci Mane and Usher are a great duo, one we wish will happen again. They have a close energy, that has a lot of pumped up vibes.

We see some old dance moves, that is better left off in the 00's; although, I guess dabbing has been adapted from one certain move clearly shown in this music video.

Nicki Minaj can clearly be seen talking to Gucci Mane, which flits a whole lot of jealous looks from Bria Murphy, who we later work out is Gucci Mane's girlfriend, that he had just split up with. The ending sees him rushing out to her and they make it up.

Overall, the music video has a brilliant narrative and an energetic performance. What more can we ask for? It's relatable, interesting and story-focused. It works well but doesn't really grip the audience all that much. It's great to watch, and totally gets kudos for not putting a bunch of provocative girls in the performance piece. Nice one!
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